Padlock



May 30, 1939- A H. E. soREF 2,160,294 PADLOCK 'f Fiied Nv. 17, 1937 QEW600mb@ Patented May 30, 1.9*39

PADLOCK Harry E. Soref, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Master LockCompany, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationNovember 17, 1937, Serial No. 175.003

Claims. (Cl. 70-38) The invention relates to locks and more particularlyto padlocks.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved lock structure ofsimple, durable and in- 5 expensive construction, capable of easyassembly,

and especially suitable for padlock use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock structure which canreadily be assembled to produce various keychanges, and which requiresbut relatively few parts.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating an embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a iront View of a padlock constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof, parts being broken away and parts beingshown in section;

Fig. 3 is another rear view, parts being removed and broken away andparts being shown in section;y

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the padlock, looking from the rear,and taken generally in the plane of the shackle, the shackle being openand a key being shown in unlocking position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken generally along the line 5-5 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,the shackle being returned to locking position; I

Fig. '7 is a front view of an inner lock case with attached parts;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the locking levers, and

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the ward members.

In the drawing, I5 designates a lock case, here shown to be ofcylindrical formand to have flat, parallel front and rear plates I5 andI1, respectively. The front plate I6 is preferably integral with thecylindrical portion of the case to form a cup, and the rear plate I1marginally bears on the edge of the cup. The case I5 is enclosed by acup-shaped shell I8 which fits closely thereon and has an outwardlydished front portion I9. Positioning nubs 20 onthe front plate I6 enterembossments 2| on the front portion of the shell.

An outwardly dished rear cover plate 22 marginl ally bears on the rearplate I1, and both of these plates are secured in place by a bead orflange 23 formed by spinning or curling over the rear edge of the shell.A positioning lug 24 on the edge of the rear plate fits in a notch 25,Fig. 2, in the edge of the cover plate. The various parts abovedescribed are conveniently formed of sheet metal stampings. If desired,the rear plate I1 may be provided with a central projection 26, such asa stud riveted thereto, to support the dished portionof the cover plate22.

A guide member 21, preferably in the form of 5 a flat, sheet metalstamping, has a projection 28 at one side edge riveted or otherwisesecured in an anchor slot 29 formed in the front plate I6, Fig. '1, andhas a projection 30 at its other side edge which ts in a slot 3l in therear plate 11,710 Fig. 2. .The guide member extends across the spacebetween the front and rear case walls and has formed therein ashackle-guiding opening 32, Fig. 4.

The case and shell have openings 33 therein 15 to slidably receive thelegs of a U-shaped shackle 34, the long leg of the shackle also slidablyand rotatably passing through the guide member opening 32, and the shortleg having a beveled end and a locking notch 35 near this end. An 20annular groove 36, Fig. 4, is formed about the end portion of the longshackle leg and slidably receives therein a forked stop plate 31 whichis engageable with the guide member 21 to limit the outward movement ofthe shackle. The 25 forked stop plate 31 is conned on the shackle leg bythe slidable engagement of an edge of the plate with the flat inner faceof the rear case plate I1.

The shackle is preferably spring-urged out- 30 wardly, as by means of acoiled compression spring 38 which enters the tubular end of the longshackle leg. The spring is guided by a headed stem 39 therein, the headof the stem resting in a positioning seat 4l?, Fig. 4, formed in 35 aplate 4I which is secured in the case and is spaced downwardly from theguide plate 2l. The plate 4I has a projection 42 at one side edgelriveted or otherwise secured in an anchor slot 43 formed in the casefront plate l5, Fig. 7, and 40 has a projection 44 at its other sideedge which ts in a slot 45 in the rear plate l1, Fig. 2. One end of theplate 4I has a downwardly offset portion 46 which forms a key-guidingledge and stop.

A guide pin or stud 41 is rigidly riveted at one 4,5 end on the frontplate I 6, and has its other end fitting in an opening 48, Fig. 2,formed in the rear plate I1, the pin extending at rght-angles to thefront and rear plates and being at the side portion of the case adjacentthe short shackle 50 leg.

Mounted on the guide pin `41 are a number of flat metal plates, sixbeing shown by way of example, lling the depth of the case between the yfront and rear case plates. Two of these plates, 55

49 and 50, constitute locking members or bolts, and are in the form oftumbler-like levers pivotally mounted on the pin, each lever beingprovided with an opening 5l to receive the pin. Each locking lever has ahooked upper end 52 engageable with the notched end of the short shackleleg to thereby lock the shackle. Each locking lever is urged to lockingposition by a narrow leaf spring 53 which has a hooked end portion.engaged in a pocket 54 in the lever, the other end portion of the springslidably bearing againstan edge of the guide plate 21, this edge beingspaced from the pin 41 and extending parallel toi the pin. The springwidth is about the same as the lever thickness. The two locking levershave respective concave key-sweeps orkey-engaging surfaces 55 at theirlower side edge portions, and are similar except that the key-sweep oflever 49 projects farther than that of the other lever 50. The lever 49is here shown to have an opening 56. which serves to facilitate handlingof the leverand to distinguish the levers, during assembly. Each lever:has, a shoulder 51 which bears against the4 inner periphery of the lockcase; to. limit the spring-urged locking. movement of the lever, andeach lever also has a corner or projection 51' which is engageable withthe inner periphery of the lock case to limit the movement of the leverin unlocking direction.

The other four plates. on.- the pin 41 are ward members 58 and 59, twoof each,'whioh are interchangeable toI produce key changes, the levers49. andv 50; being also interchangeable for this purpose. The wardplates have openings 60 through which the pin 41 passes, and areconfined against rotation on thepin, eachA plate being provided; with afinger itt to engage. the under side of the guide plate 21 and furtherprovided with a nger 6.52 and a shoulder G3i to engage the innerperiphery of. the lock case. The ward plates 58 and 59 are similarexcept that each of the plates 59, Fig. 9, is provided with a notch 64for keyclearance and to; present a key-stopping shoulder 65.

The front case plate ItV and front wall of the shell are provided withrespective openings 65 and 61 placed in alignment, each. opening havinga circular portion anda slot-like portion projecting downward from thecircular portion. A slotted key guide or cylinder E8- is journalledinthe openings 66 and 61 and` has a peripheral1 flange 69loosely fittingin the space between the front plate I6 and front wall of the shell. Akey 10, preferably of the corrugated type, is adapted to enter the keyguide and has bits 1l at various distances from the rotational axis ofthe key, some of the bits being engageable with the keysweeps on thelocking levers 49 and 50i Theend. of the key distant from the handlerotatably fits in a circular opening 12V formed in the rear case platel1. k y

In assembling the padlock, the plates 21 and 4| and the pin 41 areriveted tothe plate I6 of the cup-shaped lock case, .and the case isthen inserted into the shell l8r', the key guide 68 having been placedin position. Two of the ward plates are placed on the*V pin 41,followedv by the two spring-pressed lever plates 49 and 50' and the tworemaining wardy plates. 'I-he order of the-several plates is varied indifferent locks so as tol provide for key changes. Each spring 53 isinserted in the corresponding lever plate and flexed: before thissub-assembly is placedin the case.v The. two locking lever plates arepreferably placedv centrally between the ward plates, so as to centrallyengage in the shackle notch, Fig. 5, but in some instances the leverplates may have diiferent positions, provided they are still engageablein the shackle notch. The shackle and its spring means are theninserted, followed by the studcarrying rear plate I1 and rear coverplate 22. The shell I8 is then spun over the cover plate to complete theassembly. The lever plates and their springs are. retained againstlateral shifting by the adjacent ward plates.

In operation, when it is desired to unlock the n padlock, the key 10 isinserted into the rotatably mounted key guide 68, Fig. 4, the key beingfurther guided by the oiset end 46 of the plate 4| so as to enter theopening 12 in the rear plate l1, and to; prevent rotation of the key inthe wrong direction. The key is then turned counter-clockwise, as viewedin- Fig., 4, causing certain bits of the key to engage the concave edgesor keysweeps 55 of the locking levers and to turn these levers on the.pin 4:1 against the action of the springs 53 to the shackle-unlockingposition seen in Fig, 4, the.r Vrotation of time` key being. stopped bythe shoulders 6.5; on the; ward plate 59. The shackle when released ismoved outwardlyY to released positionby its spring 38,. and whenreleased .may be swung; aboutV its; long` leg. as a, pivot. If

itis attemptedto use a different key, having the key bits in otherpositions-, theV ward plates. and locking levers will. prevent unlockingmovement. In their unlocking: position the lower corner 51 of at leastone. of. the. locking levers is close to the inner periphery of' theVlock case, so i that. if it is attempted to move the. locking. leversto` unlocking. position. by a key having. tumbler-engaging bits of aboutthe; same radius, only one` of the levers. will bel released; fromlockinga position, the other remaining in locking position.

While the lock structure of the invention is here shown to. be embodiedin a padlock, certain features of the structure are also applicable toother types` of locks,.sucln asdoor locks` or cabinet locks.

What I claim as new and. desire tov secure by Letters Patent is.:

1. In. a lock, the combination of a lock case, a pin secured in saidcase, and a plurality of apertured plates. mounted on said pin, one ofsaid plates` being pivoted' on: said pin and forming a locking leveradapted? tobeoperated by aturnable key .andi to engage a. lockablemember,4 and another of said plates forming a ward; member, said` wardmember having a key-stopping shoulder to limit the turning of the key inunlocking direction, and said plates being interchangeable on said pinto provide for key changes.

2'. Ina padlock, the combination. of alock case having a pivot membertherein, an apertured guide member securedinsaid case, a shackleslidableY insaid l'ock case and int said guide member., a key-operatedlocking lever lockingly engageable with` saidV shackle andl swingable onsaid. pivot member; and a spring bearing on said guide member and'urgingsaid lever to locking position.

3. In a padlock, the combination of a lock. case, a slidably guided'shackle, a. plate secured in. said case and'-y having arr offset' endportion presenting akey-guiding surface, spring means engaging saidplate for` urging said shackle outwardly, a key-operated locking leverin said' case engageable with saidl shackle; .and-a key-guiding memberrotatably mount/edin said case..

'j 4-. In a padlock, the combination of4v an apertured lock casehaving apivot member therein, anA apertured guide plate' secured in said: case,a

shackle slidable in said lock case and guide plate, a key-operatedlocking lever engageable with said shackle and swingable on said pivotmember, a Ward plate mounted on said pivot member and engageable withsaid guide platev to prevent rotation of said plate, and a springbearing on said guide member and urging said lever to locking position.

5. In a lock, the combination of a look case having spaced outer andinner front wall portions With aligned openings, an .aperturedkeyguiding member journalled in said openings and having an intermediateperipheral flange loosely conned between said wall portions, andkeyoperated locking means in said case.

HARRY E. SOREF.

